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Valley Spirit: April 30, 1862 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

Letter From the Army
(Column 1)

Summary: A letter from Hiram Treher, a soldier in the Fifth Ohio, to his father John Treher, of Loudon. It describes Hiram's participation in fighting around Winchester, Virginia, in late March.
(Names in announcement: John Treher, Hiram Treher)

Congress and Abolition
(Column 5)

Summary: Complains about the influx of freed blacks into Kansas and Philadelphia. The article argues that there is little enough work for white laborers, and nothing for blacks. Freed blacks thus have become a burden on these towns. Moreover, the Louisville Democrat argues, the proposal for a tax to support colonization of blacks will simply burden working whites with the support of blacks who won't work for themselves. These consequences of abolition need to be considered by Congress, the article concludes.

Origin of Article: Louisville Democrat

Franklin County Teacher's Institute
(Column 5)

Summary: The program for the Franklin County Teacher's Institute, to be held on May 7 in Strasburg, is as follows: Written Arithmetic--C. B. Wolf, S. H. Eby, E. K. Lehman, W. Owen, W. H. Kindig, Joseph Eckheart, G. E. Jones; Grammar--A. B. Wingert, S. D. Stach, J. H. McMullen, W. H. Hockenberry, J. H. Montgomery, J. R. Eckman; Geography--A. McElwain, Samuel Gelwix, J. L. P. Detrich, J. Cook, A. R. Over, J. W. Wolf, G. W. Betz; Orthography and Reading--T. Enterline, T. M. Richards, R. L. Montgomery, H. B. Kindig, J. W. DeHaven; Oral Arithmetic--J. S. McElwain, J. W. Wolff, S. W. Coble, D. D. Fickes, J. M. Gelwix, S. McFadden; Penmanship--H. Omwake, J. Cook, G. W. Betz, R. L. Montgomery; Algebra--P. M. Shoemaker, A. McElwain, S. Gelwix, A. R. Over; Geometry and Mensuration--C. B. Wolfe, P. M. Shoemaker; Mechanics--S. H. Eby, J. W. P. Reid; Universal History--A. McElwain, T. Enterline; Essays--Misses M. E. Work, H. M. Seibert, N. E. Paxton, E. E. Logan, M. Kell, M. E. Parker and Messers J. L. P. Detrich, S. Gelwix, S. D. Stach, G. B. Miller, G. E. Jones, J. H. McMullen, J. S. McElwain. Persons attending the Institute may obtain board and lodging at two-thirds the normal rate, or 50 cents per day.
(Names in announcement: C. B. Wolfe, S. H. Eby, E. K. Lehman, W. Owen, W. H. Kindig, Joseph Eckheart, G. E. Jones, A. B. Wingert, S. D. Stach, J. H. McMullen, W. H. Hockenberry, J. H. Montgomery, J. R. Eckman, A. McElwain, Samuel Gelwix, J. L. P. Detrich, J. Cook, A. R. Over, J. W. Wolf, H. B. Kindig, J. W. DeHaven, S. W. Coble, J. M. Gelwix, S. M. McFadden, H. Omwake, G. W. Betz, R. L. Montgomery, P. M. Shoemaker, S. Gelwix, C. B. Wolfe, J. W. P. Reid, T. Enterline, Miss M. E. Work, Miss H. M. Seibert, Miss N. E. Paxton, Miss E. E. Logan, Miss M. Kell, Miss M. E. Parker, G. B. Miller, J. S. McElwain, T. M. Richards, F. Dyson, D. D. Fickes)

A Strong Backing Up
(Column 1)

Summary: The Valley Spirit defends itself against attacks by the Harrisburg Telegraph and the Chambersburg Transcript, which took issue with the Spirit's reporting on the lack of a unanimous vote of thanks for Speaker of the House Rowe. The editors deny any personal animus toward Rowe but declare their political enmity, as they feel that Rowe sold out by declaring himself a "Union" candidate and defeating the regular Democratic nominee, Capt. Wishart.

The Union--Its True Friends and Enemies
(Column 3)

Summary: The Spirit attacks the Republican Party for its single-minded drive to obtain abolition at the expense of the Constitution. The emancipation of slaves in the District of Columbia proves that Lincoln is as bad an abolitionist as the rest of the Republicans, all of whom seem intent on strengthening the rebel cause and alienating the border states.

May Festival
(Column 1)

Summary: Gives notice of a festival to benefit the Brass Band to be held at Franklin Hall on the first three days of May. The band, the editors note, is composed of "worthy young men, possessing the highest order of musical talent," and the editors urge all to attend. Admission is 10 cents for men and free for women.

Promoted
(Column 1)

Summary: Lieutenant Thomas of Chambersburg, recently in the recruiting service, has been promoted to Captain in Company H of the 77th Regiment, Penn. Volunteers. Lieutenant J. F. Shattuck, who has been commanding the company since the end of March, has been promoted to first lieutenant.
(Names in announcement: Lieut. Thomas, Lieut. J. F. Shattuck)

Teacher's Association
(Column 1)

Summary: The Teacher's Association will convene in Strasburg on Wednesday the 7th; J. Stewart and W. S. Everett, Esqs. will address the Association on Wednesday night, and the Rev. J. Burd will address them on Thursday night.
(Names in announcement: J. StewartEsq., W. S. EverettEsq., Rev. J. Burd)

Death of a Soldier
(Column 1)

Summary: John Essom, Company A, 77th Reg't Penn. Volunteers, formerly of Chambersburg, died in the hospital at Nashville on March 29 of chronic diarrhea.
(Names in announcement: John Essom)

Mercersburg Soldier Wounded
(Column 1)

Summary: Hezekiah Beck, a resident of Mercersburg, was wounded at the Battle of Pittsburg Landing in the head and arm. He was a member of Captain Wishert's company.
(Names in announcement: Hezekiah Beck)

Mortally Wounded
(Column 1)

Summary: Thomas McElwee, a member of Capt. Wishert's company of the 77th Reg't Penn. Volunteers, was mortally wounded at the Battle of Pittsburg Landing. He was a native of Franklin County and formerly resided near Fayetteville, where he still has relations living.
(Names in announcement: Thomas McElwee)

Robbery
(Column 2)

Summary: A peddler's wagon was broken into on the premises of the Franklin Hotel, and $25 or $30 worth of dry goods was stolen. No arrests were made.

Letter from the Battle Field
(Column 2)

Summary: Lieut. Col. Housum's letter describes first the corpses on the battlefield at Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh) and then lists the Union officers killed during combat. He notes that only one man in the 77th Reg't Penn. Volunteers was killed, though he is now rumored to be alive.
(Names in announcement: Lieut. Col. P. B. Housum, Thomas McElwee)

Editorial Comment: "We make the following extract from a private letter written by Lieut. Col. Housum from the battle field of Shiloh."

Extracts from the Minutes of the City Democratic Executive Committee, Harrisburg, April 23
(Column 3)

Summary: This meeting was held to pass resolution to protest against the alleged existence of secret Republican societies, labeled "Loyal Union Leagues," in Luzerne and Dauphin counties, as well as in the state legislature.

The Niggers are Coming--Fine Prospects Ahead
(Column 4)

Summary: Notes the arrival in Philadelphia of over one hundred former slaves, who were met by a crowd of taunting whites and eventually by a welcoming committee of local blacks. It is rumored that some abolitionists will try to get them employment at the local navy yard. The author protests this action, saying it puts blacks in competition with white mechanics. He argues that the freed blacks should stay in the South to work on plantations.

Origin of Article: Easton Argus

Full Text of Article:

A Philadelphia corespondent of the New York Herald, gives the following account of the arrival, in Philadelphia, of a company of nearly one hundred runaway negroes:

"Philadelphia, March 28, 1862.

At five o'clock this morning ninety-seven fugitive slaves reached this city by the Baltimore Railroad, and were marched immediately to the Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, at the foot of Washington street, by a deputation of police officers of the First district. An immense crowd followed the contrabands, shrieking, mimicking and tormenting them. At the saloon they were plentifully fed at the tables where a hundred thousand soldiers have been refreshed. The crowd meantime surrounded the shed or stable wherein they were feeding, and at their reappearance made the air clamorous with their cries. Some intensely ludicrous scenes were here enacted, and the negroes were by turn filled with fear and merriment. About a hundred Philadelphia blacks had in the meantime heard of the arrival of their brethren, and a committee of these were allowed to enter the saloon and consult with the fugitives. The interview is said to have been exceedingly humorous and ended in the acceptations by the distinguished strangers of sundry invitations to lodge with our negro citizens.

The wealthy negro families here have generously sheltered the Ethiops, and it is probable that a number will remain in the city. The abolitionists are using every endeavor to secure the employment of blacks in the arsenals and navy yards. Memorials of this description are being circulated in this city, and certain Congressmen are pledged to agitate the matter in Congress.

The negroes who have arrived are dressed in the coarsest garb of hemp, and those that stray around the city are singled out for universal criticism and laughter. Most of these contra-bands have been engaged with Banks' division, repairing railroads on the Upper Potomac. They have brought their grandmothers and children, away, and we saw among the arrivals one woman upwards of a hundred years old, who stated that she had more than twenty children.

Three of these negroes were the property of ex-Senator Mason, and two of Hon. C.J. Faulkner.

Three hundred Fugitives expect to get here next week.

Our citizens are, in the main, incensed at the appearance of these people, and the laboring people are particularly chagrined. Several of the men have money, and one negro had Treasury notes to the amount of a hundred dollars.

Here now, we have a practical demonstration of the effect of the efforts of the insane abolitionists to free the negroes. They already begin to come North in gangs of one hundred at a time, bringing along their children and Grand-mothers, to be supported by the people of the North. "Three hundred more are expected next week!" So we are told--and their good friends, the abolitionists, are trying to "secure them employment in the arsenals and Navy yards!" Pleasant prospects for the Irish, German and American laborer! Sambo to get all the work: poor white men to be thrown out of employ to make room for the niggers, and to be well taxed to make up Sambo's pay. Glorious prospects, ahead!

What do our mechanics and laboring men, particularly those who put the Republican party in power, think of this state of affairs? Does not this prove that the Democrats were right, when they contended that the effect of abolition principles proving triumphant, would result in having the whole North overrun with worthless negroes, to come into competition with the white laborer? When the Democratic papers predicted that this would be the case, they were [r]idiculed and scoffed at by the Republican paper.

This is but the beginning of the evil. They are now coming by the hundred, and if abolitionism is not crushed out and put down, by the potent influence of the ballot box, after a while they will come by the thousand! As these blacks are willing to work cheaper than white men, our white laborers will, as a matter of course, be thrown out of employment, to the extent that these people are introduced into our midst. That will be the inevitable result. Pennsylvania being a border State, we will get more than our share and may expect to suffer more than others.

The Democratic party is in favor of letting these negroes remain in the South and earn their living on the plantations where they have been reared. We do not want them here, to throw our white laboring population out of employment, to steal from our Farmers and to fill our Poor Houses and Prisons. We have as many colored people here as we need. Let the Southerners take care of the hundred year old women and young darkies, themselves. Unless this thing is checked by some means, it will prove a serious evil and an intolerable nuisance.

Easton Argus.

The First Step Towards Amalgamation
(Column 5)

Summary: The letter writer argues that black and white boys playing together is the first step toward social amalgamation of the races.

Origin of Article: Patriot and Union

Full Text of Article:

Any one who walks the streets of Harrisburg may see, at almost every corner, a promiscuous crowd of white and black boys playing together, wrangling together and practically carrying out the Abolition doctrine of perfect equality between the races. It not unfrequently happens that, in these assemblages, fights occur, in which white boys get unmercifully whipped by the blacks, who are not slow to avail themselves of their superior size and strength, and who carry out the natural law which gives right to might.

Now, what can you expect from a white boy who is in the habit of free and equal intercourse with black boys, whose home and street education every one of our citizens understands?

Can the white boy who has been kicked and cuffed by a negro entertain the self-respect and sense of shame calculated to restrain him from low and immoral habits?

The aphorism that "evil communications corrup[t] good manners" was never more fully exemplified than in the present case. We wonder that parents do not interpose to correct an evil so demoralizing to the rising generation, and which, unfortunately, is one of the bitterest fruits of the turbid stream of Abolition speeches, essays and tracts sown broad cast over the land by fanatics whose morbid sympathy for the blacks prepares the degradation of the whites!

How long will the people suffer in their midst these howling dervishes whose sole object seems to be, to pull down the whites to the level of the blacks! Whose cant is, "the dignity of white labor, by the introduction in our midst of thousands of runaway slaves, who will enter into competition with our white laborers, reduce their wages, and degrade occupation!

The white boy who is now seen cheek by jowl with a negro may probably be seen in after life mating with a colored wench, and thus become the willing instrument of practical amalgamation.

The city of Harrisburg now presents a few such shameful examples. The juvenile admixture of blacks and whites of which we now complain may hereafter increase them to such a degree as to disgrace the community and deteriorate our race!

Parents! look to your children and remember that "just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined." Let it not be forgotten that ours is a Government, of white people, and that all inter-mixture with inferior races degrades our own, producing a motley rabble unfit for self-government, as we see examplified [sic] in distracted Mexico.

WHITE MAN.

Trailer: White Man

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: B. H. Anderson, of Letterkenny Township, died on April 24 at age 58.
(Names in announcement: B. H. Anderson)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: John Highlands of St. Thomas Township died on April 25 at age 74.
(Names in announcement: John Highlands)